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TTigg, You must not be using the AIO version of the book because it is 143 pages. You are also moving quite a bit faster then I am. I went through book 1 in seven weeks and after about ten weeks I have covered a little over a third of book 2. I do work on all the pieces but do not stay long with pieces I don't like. I switched to the AIO books because of the binding as they stay open much better on the music stand.

Originally posted by BobH: TTigg, You must not be using the AIO version of the book because it is 143 pages. You are also moving quite a bit faster then I am. I went through book 1 in seven weeks and after about ten weeks I have covered a little over a third of book 2. I do work on all the pieces but do not stay long with pieces I don't like. I switched to the AIO books because of the binding as they stay open much better on the music stand. [/b]

Yeah for books 1&2 I had the separate theory and lesson books. For book #3 AIO is the only option. I've not skipped any pieces in book #2 but like you, I don't spend ages on the ones I'm not that fond of.

Book #2 is going slower than 1 but I think that's to be expected. My recital took up a little more time than I was originally planning but it was worth it in the end.

MOYD really helps since I manage to get in an easy 1hr in the mornings and then extra time in the evenings

I returned to piano in January after a 20 year break from a year of lessons. I started with Learn and Master Piano but wanted more note reading so after 4 months switched to the materials I had saved from my year of lessons. Then I started reading the Alfred's threads here and felt a more organized format would work better. Bottom line is I began book 1 after 6 months of playing around, so I did not start out at the same place as most people here. I think shortly into book 2 I arrived at my level of competence. It seems like from here on out my progress will be measured on a different scale.

I haven't been here in quite a while but I'm working on night song. And I'm still Hokey Pokeying to the point where my family is ready to throw me out. It was kind of silly at first, but I actually like it now that it's sounding good. A few days into Night Song, I'm really enjoying it.I also started Hanon exercises a few weeks back and I like doing them and I think they're really helping my finger strength and coordination.

I liked the House of the Rising Sun a lot also but I still manage to screw it up.

Originally posted by bperry: I'm still Hokey Pokeying to the point where my family is ready to throw me out. It was kind of silly at first, but I actually like it now that it's sounding good. [/b]

:D

I’ve found that to be true of a lot of the songs I don’t initially care for. After playing them for a while, I start to enjoy the act of playing them even if they’re still not the sort of thing I’d want to play for others. I try to follow through with each and every piece in the book because I figure it’s there for a reason and there is probably something I can learn from it even if I don’t immediately recognize what that “something” is.

Originally posted by bperry: I haven't been here in quite a while but I'm working on night song. And I'm still Hokey Pokeying to the point where my family is ready to throw me out. It was kind of silly at first, but I actually like it now that it's sounding good. A few days into Night Song, I'm really enjoying it.I also started Hanon exercises a few weeks back and I like doing them and I think they're really helping my finger strength and coordination.

I liked the House of the Rising Sun a lot also but I still manage to screw it up.

I'll have to check back here more often. [/b]

Yeah the Hokey Pokey was a tough nut to crack. Night Song was easy for me, like to play it and will add this to my weekly "rep".

Going to polish up the Hawai one and then work on the next 2 songs for next week. Then I take a 2wk break (traveling also) so I'll pick the rest up in the new year.

Still managed to be approx 1/2 way through #2 by Xmas which was one of my original goals..

Hi All I am learning a little from the Alfred books, plus some other books too. I did a search here on Piano World for fake book, and found that one of the members of Piano World wrote a pretty nice lesson book, that comes with a cd. I got it, and it really looks like a nice way of adding things to learn to the methods we are in. I am still a Level 1 Alfred, and Piano Adventures user, but I know that you level 2 guys and gals will love the things that Pete the bean teaches. I started a thread and asked him if he would help us out a little, and he said yes, and posted a free lesson that will be very helpful to everyone in the thread. Just thought I would suggest that you check it out, not trying to sell anything, but just sharing what I think is some great help for all. Oh, and how nice it is too that the guy that wrote the book, is a member right here with all of us on Piano World. Also, while I am thinking of it, there is a link in the thread for a lot of free audios of some jazz lessons that I think is a great resource too. Pete has a link for the audio of this free lesson on there too. Thanks, and hope to see many of you on that thread. Here is the link.

Originally posted by blues flat 7:I am still a Level 1 Alfred, and Piano Adventures user, but I know that you level 2 guys and gals will love the things that Pete the bean teaches. I started a thread and asked him if he would help us out a little, and he said yes, and posted a free lesson that will be very helpful to everyone in the thread. Just thought I would suggest that you check it out, not trying to sell anything, but just sharing what I think is some great help for all. Flat 7 [/b]

Not trying to sell anything? Really? That would be different! So Pete the bean's book, CD and all his lessons are free then?

Regards, JF

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Every difficulty slurred over will be a ghost to disturb your repose later on. Frederic Chopin

Originally posted by blues flat 7:I am still a Level 1 Alfred, and Piano Adventures user, but I know that you level 2 guys and gals will love the things that Pete the bean teaches. I started a thread and asked him if he would help us out a little, and he said yes, and posted a free lesson that will be very helpful to everyone in the thread. Just thought I would suggest that you check it out, not trying to sell anything, but just sharing what I think is some great help for all. Flat 7 [/b]

Not trying to sell anything? Really? That would be different! So Pete the bean's book, CD and all his lessons are free then?

Yes it is available. I find it only marginally helpful. The music sounds very computer generated. The piano is usually accompanied by other instruments making it more difficult to hear the piano part. Why they do that I don't know. After all, it is a piano instruction book.

_________________________
Keep it fun, and stay motivated!

If you can achieve something without a struggle, it's not going to be satisfying.

I have found the pieces posted at the begining of this string to be great. I copied them to my hard drive and use them as a quick reference when I start a new piece. All of the pieces are not there but that does force me to practice counting beats once in a while. I wish the pieces from the supplementary books were available also.

I am currently working on the Hokey Pokey and Night Song. Hokey Pokey is one of the first songs I felt like I had to just let loose and let my fingers take over. It really made it much easier. Its funny how some songs that you really do not like can push you to the next step. I really like Night Song; it makes me feel like I am playing the piano and not just going through another learning exercise.

Originally posted by BobH: I am currently working on the Hokey Pokey and Night Song. Hokey Pokey is one of the first songs I felt like I had to just let loose and let my fingers take over. It really made it much easier. Its funny how some songs that you really do not like can push you to the next step. I really like Night Song; it makes me feel like I am playing the piano and not just going through another learning exercise. [/b]

Mark,As I have been working through book 2 I have come across a few songs that were not included in your links. I was able to find most of these by going to Utube and typing in the name of the piece as well as Alfred's book 2. I think I found everything I was looking for. Some of the pieces were posted by people from this forum. I saved copies of the audio to my hard drive using the Audigy software that came with my computer soundcard. This method may be helpful to others looking for songs.

Just started with Book 2, I'm teaching myself after a long period of near inactivity. I'm using Book 2 plus simple Bach pieces to bolster my confidence again. I really like the AIO's approach of interweaving theory and practice ... makes a lot of sense to me!

I am also using the AIO but mostly purchased it due to the binding. I used the standard version of book 1 and it never sat well on the music stand. I do not spend much time on the theory portion of book 2 but have read about half of Edly's Music Theory for Practical People. It started to get more advanced then I was ready for but I will go back to it in the future.

OK back from holiday break & travel. Pretty much done with Pomp & Circumstance, now just gotta polish off the Seventh Blues one. Then I have my 45m lesson with teacher so we can continue on next part (step) of #2.

Since the pieces in #2 are generally longer I've noticed that unlike #1 when you do 2-3pages of theory it can easily cover 4-5 songs!

I am currently working on Olympic Procession and trying to polish up Hava Nagila. For some reason on the opening of that one my fingers run away and slip in a few perfect wrong notes. Up to this point I have not been working with a metronome. Does anyone use them and how do you know what rate to set it for with the pieces in Alfred's?

I’ve used a metronome to help me keep a steady tempo on a few pieces. As for knowing what to set it to, or knowing the intended tempo on some of the Alfred pieces in general, this is were I’ve gotten the most use out of the CD. I never use it to play along with, but I will listen to some pieces to get an idea of the tempo. I have a built in metronome on my DP and it has a “Tap” function where you set the time signature (meter) and then just tap the button in time with the music and it sets the tempo.

After saying all of that, I would think “Hava Nagila” would be a tuff one to use a metronome on due to the tempo changes.

PS: I’m currently working on “Battle Hymn of the Republlic” and “The Riddle”.

I spent my first session with the metronome yesterday working on Olympic Procession. I set the metronome to a tempo of 60 playing only the weak beats. It is funny but it changes your focus from playing the correct notes and cords to playing them on the beat. It sure points out where you are weak in the piece. I am not sure how much I often I will use the device but I can see the value.